Explosion at the US Embassy in Oslo: 'People ran in panic'
A really loud blast shook up Oslo city centre this afternoon. A huge boom was heard right next to the US Embassy, and shortly after, dark smoke started billowing up. People in the area seemed to panic, and many started running away from the scene. "It was like a bomb had gone off; I honestly thought it was a prank at first," says a witness who was on his way home from work.
Police cordon off large areas
Police in Oslo responded in full force and have now cordoned off several blocks around the embassy. They won't comment on the cause just yet, but they've confirmed an explosion occurred. A helicopter is hovering over the city, and you can smell burnt gunpowder all the way by the Oslofjord. Boats that were docked felt the shockwaves travel through the water.
Traffic chaos in the Oslofjord Tunnel
As a result of the incident, the Oslofjord Tunnel was closed in both directions for almost an hour. Motorists were stuck in traffic jams while emergency services worked around the clock. "I was in the tunnel and didn't hear a thing, but when I came out, the whole sky was grey with smoke," a commuter shares. The tunnel is now open again, but police are advising people to avoid the area.
- Police have the situation under control, but the cause remains unknown.
- Several nearby schools and kindergartens were evacuated.
- OsloMet has asked students and staff to stay indoors.
OsloMet on standby
Over at OsloMet – the metropolitan university – classes were suspended for a couple of hours. Students were told to stay away from windows and listen out for updates from management. Naturally, many were anxious, and rumours were circulating that it could be a terrorist attack. Nothing points to that for now, but police aren't ruling anything out.
– This brings to mind Oslobođenje, but in the worst possible way
Standing here watching the smoke clear, the word Oslobođenje comes to mind – a term from the Balkans meaning liberation. Not exactly something we use in daily life here in Oslo, but right now, every bang feels like an attack on our very freedom. "It's like a wake-up call that the safety we take for granted can disappear in a second," says an elderly woman who lives in the neighbourhood.
The incident at the US Embassy in Oslo has left a deep impact. Even though there are no reports of injuries or any criminal intent, the mood in the city is sombre. Let's hope this was just an accident, and that the Oslofjord can once again be a place for peace and recreation, not fear. For now, the main thing is to follow the authorities' advice and take care of one another.